Trump’s Davos appearance became less a policy speech and more a geopolitical showdown. Arriving late after Air Force One’s emergency U‑turn, he tore into Europe’s “seriously weakened” leaders, questioned NATO’s reliability, and bizarrely linked a US stock market dip to Iceland. Then came Greenland: an “obligation” for America to control, a “golden dome” he said the US must build, insisting only Washington could truly defend the Arctic island.
European leaders pushed back hard. Macron framed the moment as a choice between “respect” and “bullies,” while Belgium’s prime minister likened Trump to the “Very Hungry Caterpillar,” devouring trust and alliances. Tariff threats – 10%, then 25% – now hang over Europe’s economies like a sword, explicitly tied to Denmark’s refusal to sell territory. In a single speech, Trump turned Davos from a forum on cooperation into a live test of how far he’s willing to go to get what he wants.
